Shipley MP Philip Davies has condemned fellow MPs calling for 16-year-olds to be given the right to vote as "pathetic" – accusing them of trying to "look trendy and youthful".

The Commons voted yesterday in favour of lowering the voting age – by 119 votes to 46, a majority of 73 – although the result is not binding.

The measure passed largely because of the support of Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs.

But Mr Davies said: "It's about MPs trying to look trendy and youthful in their constituencies. To be perfectly honest, it's rather pathetic." He said many of those calling for votes at 16 had backed raising the age for smoking to 18.

But, Stephen Williams, the Lib Dem who proposed the motion, insisted change was inevitable.

He said: "Parliament made history by supporting my motion to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote.”